Glove



Dec. 3l, 1940. 5. w. GElssMANN Y 2,226,504

GLOVE Filed June 16, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 14 TTORNE Y FIG. 16 l Av1/EN Tok Patented bec. 31, 1940' N 1 `opovn A chan Nejvqrk, N. r. application :ne 1e, 193s, serial No. 213,956

@camicie-169) This invention relates to glovesand lyto improvements in the thumb constructions of gloves.V

Substantially all types of dress gloves are provvided with thumb portions which are formed seliarately and are sewed intov apertures'in the palm, or palm andback portions of the glove. This type of construction forms a well tting thumb but is somewhat unsightly` and valso lacks exibllity for the reason that the seam which connects the, thumb to the'bodyof theglove extend-sacrosathe palm around the base of the thumb ymuscle and upwardly across the back portion of the glove. The seam, -in effect; constitutes a reenf forcement which resists easy bending ot the.

thumb and produces a zone of weakness y in the glove. A Numerous attempts have been made to do away with the seam connectingthe thumb piece to the glove and many glove constrluztions' have been made in which the seam is eliminated. However, none of these constructions has been satisfactory forthe reason that the resulting gloves do not fit properly and as a consequmce areuseful-only as work gloves. Usually the integral thumb portions are formed symmetrically on the back and palm portions of the glove and as a consequence project outwardly from the glove in the plane thereof so that the glove can be wom withcqunl facihty on either handand properly tits neitherl hand.

An object of the Ypresent invention is to provide properly fitting gloves Yhaving no seam on the palm portion thereof as Another object com invention is to provide gloves in which the maior portion of the thinnb'i thereof is formed integrally with the palm and/oe` back portion. whereby seams extending Vacross the palm and/or back of the glove adjacent the 40baseofthethumbareavoided Other objects of the invenon Vwill heconieup-V parent from a description of typical forms o 4.5 tion and abackportioneachhaving correspondconnected shipthroughoutnnda.tlmmbporiilouwhich Athe glove. 'Ihethumbportionisnon-symmetrleallydisposedwithrespecttothepahnandbeck portionsand whenmcompleted formisdisposed inthe properpositiontorecelveathumb,thatis normally tends to' project forwardly from the palm portion of the glove rather than inthe plane ofthe palm and back. portions.. fl'he thumb portionforms the major portion of the'thumb of the glove and the thumb is completed by-me'ans 5 of a fourchette having a. generally oval shaped Vend which is connected to the edges ofthe thumb portion. The vfourchette extends from the tip `of the thumb downwardly into the crotch between the thumb and toreiinger and may extend along 10 v the outer portion of the foreiinger over the end and down into the crotch between the fore and secondngers as disclosed in my copending applications Serial No. 193,226 filed March 1, 1938,

Vsind serial No. 204,552 med April 27, 193s. 'mese 15 oopendins applications disclose various forms of fourchettes for connecting the finger portions of the gloves and also forming the inner portion of.

a thumb for the glove. The fourchettes disclosed in these applications may be continuous strips 20 which extend-from the bottom of the inclined y crotches between the fingers over'the ends and down intothe-next crotch, or they'may be formed of several pieces joined in suitable manner to A produce the effect of a fourchette which maln- 25 tains the linger portions on'the back and palm of the glove in spaced relationship throughout. Any

of these types of fourchettes may be used with, A lequal facility for connecting the inger portions of the gloves embodying the present invention. 30 The thumb portion of the gloves embodying the present invention may be formed as 'an'integralpart of thepalm and back portions oi!V the gloves, and in this form of the invention the original blank has the thumb portion disposed betweenthe .3s back and'palm portions and inclined at diierent angles relatively to the longitudinal axis of -the finger portions thereof, whereby the thumb portion is unsymmetrically disposed' and is located i'n the proper position to receive the thumb of 40 the human hand.

Gloves of the type including seamless palms and/or backs are extremely flexible because'there I is no'seam to bind :and resist movement or the 4 thumb. They, likewise, have an'extremely novel 45' appearance. For example, the palm portion and the back of the thumb portion may be produced` Y from one type orcolor or leather-,while the back portion of the glove may be formed from another type-or color of material. Likewisethe four-"50 chettes which connect the nger portion' and form the inner portion of thethumb maybe of materials orcolors, thereby producing a highly ornamental 'eifect. The integral- `thumb construction greatly' strengthens the'55 gloves by eliminating seams which mayrip because of the stresses to which they are subjected,

and also facilitates the manufacture of `such gloves for the reason that the amount of sewing required to assemble the gloves is greatly reduced.

Figure 4 is a. plan view of a fourchette for connecting adjacent edges ofl the little finger, the palm and back of the glove;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a fourchette f or completing the thumb portion and connecting the outer and inner edges of the foreflnger portions of the glove;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the glove formed from the blanks shown in Figures 1 to 5. inclusive, looking in the direction of the palm of the glove; ,s

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the glove shown in Figure 6 looking in the direction of the back of the glove;

Figures 8 and -9 are plan views of the back .and palm portions of a modified form of glove;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the glove formed from the blanks shown in Figures 8 and Figure 11 is -a plan view of a modified form of blank in which the palm, back and thumb portions of the glove are formed integrally;

Figure 12 isa perspective view of the glove formed from the blank disclosed in Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a plan view of another form of blank in which the palm, back and thumb portions are formed integrally;

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the form of glove produced from the blank shown in Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a plan view of palm and back blanks 'for a modified form ofglove in which the thumb portion is integral` with the back blank; and

Figure 16 is a perspective view of the glove produced from the blanks shown in Figure 15.

The form of glove disclosed in Figures 6 and 7 is formed from a. palm portion I0 having finger portions I I, I2, I3 andv I4 formed thereon and a' back portion I5 having corresponding finger poro tions II', I2', I3' and I4 thereon. The finger' portions II to I4 on the palm portion are sepa. rated by means of slits I3 which are of lesser depth than the slits I6' between the finger portions II' to I4 inclusive to correspond'to the taper of the crotches between the ngers on a human hand.

'Ihe finger portions I2 and I3 on the palm portion I0 are connected to tt e corresponding finger portions I2' and I3' on theback portion I5 by means of fourchettes I1 of the type shown in -Figure 3. The fourchettes I1 are characterized by a straight longitudinal edge I9, inclined end edges I9 and an opposite longitudinal edge 20 which converges from a wide portion adjacent' the end edges I9 to a narrower center portion. The fourchettes IIl are providedv with oppositely directed tips 2| adjacent the center portion thereof which act as matching points for the corresponding tips 22 on the ends of the finger portions l2, |2313 and la', thereby fooiut'oung 'alignment of the fourchettes with the finger portions. The tips 2|- and 22 may be gripped with small clamps (not shown), and the fourchette sewed between the finger portions to maintain them in spaced relationship throughout their entire extent, as shown particularly in Figure 7.

The corresponding little nger portions Id, I4

and the adjacent edges 23 and 23' of palm and back portions of the. glove are connected by means of a fourchette 24 of the type shown in Figure 4. The fourchette 24 consists of a strip of material having an inclined end 25, a straight edge 2B, a short edge portion ,21 which converges toward' the edge 26 and forms the inner portion of the littleinger. The fourchette also includes an outwardlytapering or diverging edge 28 which is adapted to be-disposed and connected by stitching from the end o'f the little finger portions I4, f'

M' and .along the edges 23, 23 of the glove. The fourchette 24 includes matching points 29 which are aligned with the matching points 22 on the little finger portions I4, I4 and additional matching points 30 which are aligned with the matching points 3i and 3| on the palm and back portions of the gloves.

As shown in Figure 1, the back or outer portion of the thumb is formed integrally with the palm portion I0 of the glove. The thumb portion 32 projects at an acute angle to the axes of the nger portions II to I4Y of the glove from the upper .edge'of a lateral extension 33 on the palm. The thumb portion 32 has a rounded upper end 34 and slightly diverging lateral edge portions 35 and 35', the latter terminating in a crotch ad-v jacent the base of the forenger portion U. The

edge 35 of the thumb portion 32 curves outwardly to form a matching point 36 which is adapted to be aligned with a matching point 3l on the backportion I5 of the glove. The palm portion I0 below the thumb portion hasa reversely curved edge 38 which is attached by suitable stitching to a. curved edge 33 on the back portion of the glove. 'I'he -thumb portion 32 is of sucient width to form substantially the entire outer or back portion of the thumb of the glove. The thumb is completed by'a fourchette 39 lwhich may, if desired, extend from the upper end 34 of the thumb portion 32 downwardly into the crotch between the thumb and forenger portions and then upwardly along the forefinger'portions II, II' of the ends thereof and downwardly into the glove, respectively. The edge 42 Aof the fourchette 40. merges into a straight edge 44 which converges toward an' opposite edge 45 on the fourchette to form a restricted or narrower portion v46 which is disposed adjacent the tipV of the foreflnger portions I I, I I. "I'he edge 46' diverses from the narrowerportion outwardly from the edge45.' The end l4I ofthe fourchette is inclined to the edge 45 at an acute angleto conform to the inclination of the crotch between vinguine portions M umana lz, i2'. The

fourchette 39 may also 'be provided with tips or points 43 which are aligned with the n crotch between the finger portions II, II, I2, I2.

50 edge 60 on the back portion 5I, and straight edge taonmg' of tno fourchettes tothe gloves.

-The fourchette constructions described above are similar to those disclosed inmy copending application Serial No. 193,226, now Patent No.

2,125,673, in that the fourchettes are so tapered that the resulting `fingers likewise taper from adjacent bases to their tips in the manner that the normal human linger tapers. The tapered ngers thus provide an accurate llt and are devoid of cross seams at the tips of the ngers which would tend to bind and reduce the nexi-I bility and comfort of the glove. If desired, the fourchettes may be made from a plurality of pieces of material. l Y

As shown particularly in Figure 6, the thumb construction formed from the fourchette 32. and the thumb piece. 32 is devoid. of a. seam around the base of the thumb and across the palm portion I0 ofthe glove.v Likewise, the thumb p0rtion 32 is unsymmetrically disposed with respect to the palmand back portions and is so arranged that Iit projects forwardly from the palm of the glovewhen in use even-as does the nor mal human thumb. The absence of a seam across the palm of the glovel and around the base l of the thum greatly increases the exibility of the glove and eliminates the seamed protuberance.

which interferes with the normal action of the hands.

Another form of glove' of similar construction is disclosed in Figure 10 and is formed in alike manner from a palm portion and a back portion 5I. The finger portions formed on the palmv and back portions of the glove are similar to those described above, the main difference residing inA the type of thumb portion formed on the glove. In this form of the invention the thumb portion 52 is provided with a'rounded end 53 and slightly diverging curved edge portions 54 and 55. The edge portion 54 is formed on a reversecurve and terminates in a matching point 56 which is aligned and attached to a matching point 51 on the back portion 5I.

terminates within the area of the palm portion .50, thereby forming a slot 59, th edges of which portions 6I and 62 are'likewlse stitched together to connect the palm and back portions.

The fourchettel 39 is attached by stitching to the edges of the thumb portion 52 and extends alonghe foreilnger portions 63 land. 63 of the palmand back portions of the glove as described abOVe'.

- In Figure 12 is disclosed a form' of glove formed from a single blank of material in which the palm, back and thumb portions are formed integrally, as illustralted in Figure l1. 'I'he blank 'Il disclosed in Figure 11 consists'of an elongated cuff edge 1I, curved side edges 'I2 and 1 3 which terminatein little linger portionsv and 15'. A

'plurality of corresponding 'finger portions'for the Y middle fingers and foreflngers designated generally by the numerals I5 and I5` arealso formed, in spaced "relationship onV the blank 10. The

thumb ,portion 'I6 is disposed between the forefinger portion 15, 15- an'd is inclined at Aari angle Y to the axis of the finger portions. Likewise the finger portion 15 is spaced a greater distance from the foreng'er portion 15' than it is from the forefinger portion 'I5 in order that the thumb portion The lower portion of the thumb portion 52'has an arcuate edge 58 which back portion of the completed glove. In this type of glove the cuff portion 18' is comparatively full and it does not fit the Wrist' closely. I! it 1S desired tocause the cuit 15' of the glove to lit the wrist closely, a strap orother similar means I1 may be provided for gathering the glove beneath the thumb portion 1i. By gathering the glove in this way, folds are produced adjacent the thumb which allow the thumb to he moved freely and without binding as well as produce a novel and ornamental effect. It desired, the fullness may be removed from thegloves in the manner illustrated in Figures 13 and-14. In this. form of glove the palm portion and back portion SI are formed integrally and are connected by means of the thumb portion 82. However,- a portion of the material is cut out in substantially the form of a V to form a V-shaped notch, the edges of which may he stitched together throughout their length to reduce the fullness of the glove. This construction may be further modiiied by forming th palm and back por'- tions separately with a portion of the thumb piece 82 ,projecting from each ofthe palm and back portions. Thisconstruction is`illustrated in Figure '13, the dotted line Il extending along the thumb portion adividing line upon which the palm and back portions may be separated. In assembling the gloves, they are stitched from completed glove sind spaced slightly from the the end of the thumb to the lower edges of the palm portion s2 is provided with an inwardly curved edge B3 that is stitched to the substantially complementarily curved outer edge 94 of the lateralfextension 55 from which the thumb portion projects.` This type of glove is free of seams o n the back portion and therefore allows the entire back to be formed from a diilerent type of color of material than the palm portion. The seamless back also less susceptible to ripping 'or tearing under stresses, this being important i for the reason thatgreater stresses are exerted on the back of the glove than on thepaln'i, when in use. Each of the above constructions provides a glove. in which a thumb portion is formed integrally with the pmmand/or back portions, which therefore provide an extremely attractive a ppearance and a very flexible and comfortably sitting construction. It will be understood,`of

course, that the fourchettelfor completing the thumb portions and the ringer portions of these portions of-the gloves may be varied and the vari' ous elements enteringv into the manufacture of the glove may also bevaried in-order to produce the desired eiect and tr Therefore the constructions, de scribedabove should be considered' as illustrative only and not as limiting of the following claims.

I claim: 1. In a glove, the combination the scope of palmY 'and back portions having corresponding iinger por- Vtions' projecting therefrom, a thumb portion lsmiles-sly united with at least one of said poiml 7,"

and back portions and adapted to roi-m the entire back of the thumb of the glove, and a fourchette including a thumb front portion having a rounded end and converging curved edges thereon, said rounded ends and curved converging edges being' connected to the end and edges of the thumb portion, respectively. 2. In a glove, the combination of palm and back portions having corresponding finger portionscally disposed with respect to the palm and back portions and adapted to form the entire back of the thumb of the glove, and a fourchette including a thumb front portion having a rounded end and edges converging from said rounded end, attached to the rounded end and diverging edges of said thumb portion to complete the thumb.

3. In a glove, the combination of palm and back portions having corresponding finger portions projecting therefrom, a lateral extension seamlessly united with said palm portion having an arcuate convex edge connected to an arcuate concave edge of said back portion, a thumb portion projecting from the upper edge of the lateral extension and forming the major portion of the. thumb of the glove, and a fourchette including a thumb front portion connected to the edges of the thumb portion and the edges of adjacent corresponding nger portions on the palm and back portion.

4'. In a glove, the combination of palm and back portions having side and cuff edges and fingers projecting therefrom, a lateral extension seamlessly united with one of said palm and backportions forming a portion of one of said side edges terminating at said cuff edge, and being connected to a side edge of the other portion throughout the length of the extension, a thumb back having a rounded end and diverging'curved lateralv edges seamlessly united with and projecting at an acute angle from the upper edge'of said extension and a fourchette including a thumb front portion having a rounded end and converging lateral edges connected to the edges of the thumb back, the adjacentpotions of the extensionand the edges of the linger portions adjacent to th`e thumb back. i.. 5.' In a glove, the combination of -palm and back portions having finger portions projecting therefrom and cu edges, a thumb portion interposed between the palm and back portion and seamlessly united with at least one of said por.

tions, said thumb portion being inclined and unsymmetrical with respect to said palm and back portions and forming the major portion of the thumb, and a fourchette extending along and connecting the edges of the thumb portionto form a thumb disposed at an angle to and merging into the Vpalm portion.

6. The glove set forth in claim.5 in which the thumb portion is seamlessly united with both the palm and back portions.

7. The glove set forth in claim 5, in which the thumb portion comprises-two sections seamlessly joined to, the palm and back portions and connected by a. seam extending from the tip of the thumb portion to the cui edges f the palm and back portions.

8. 'I'heglove set forth in claim 5, in which the thumb portion is seamlessly united with the palm portion and has a'lateral edge connected to the .back portion by a seamexten'ding to the cuff edge of theback portion. GLADYS WHITCOlVlB GEISSMANN. 

